Device for cooling and finishing foods



Jan. 4, 1966 w. B. HEDGEPETH DEVICE FOR COOLING AND FINISHING FOODS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 18, 1964 INVENTOR.'

WOOD B HEDGEPETH mo ly ATTORNE Jan. 4, 1966 w. B. HEDGEPETH DEVICE FORCOGLING AND FINISHING FOODS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 18,1964 INVENTOR.

WOOD B. HEDGEPETH ATTORN'Y Jan. 1966 w. B. HEDGEPETH DEVICE FOR COOLINGAND FINISHING FOODS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 18, 1964 ORNE;

INVENTOR.

wooo B. HEDGEPETH ATT United States Patent 3,227,560 DEVICE FOR COOLINGAND FINISHING FOGDS Wood B. Hedgepeth, 1090 Peachtree St. NE, Atianta,Ga. Original application Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 41,992, new Patent No.3,177,845, dated Apr. 13, 1965. Divided and this application Dec. 29,1964, Ser. No. 434,156 Claims. (fli. 99-127) This application is adivision of my previous application Serial Number 41,992, filedSeptember 18, 1964, and now Patent Number 3,177,845.

This invention relates to food processing machinery, and is moreparticularly concerned with a device for cooling and finishing foodswhich have been cooked.

Many foods, such as nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and the like,must be further processed and cooled after they are cooked. In the caseof nuts, the nuts must be salted, oil applied, and cooled beforepackaging.

The present invention provides a simple, economical and etficient meansfor finishing and cooling a large variety of cooked products. It ishighly adaptable, completely automatic, and yields a high qualityfinished product. The device is so designed as to be easily maintainedat the degree of sanitation required for the commercial handling offoods.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide afood cooler and finisher which is fully automatic and continuous inoperation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a food coolerand finisher which will cool and finish a large variety of foodproducts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a food cooler andfinisher which meets the highest stand ards of sanitary operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a food coolerand finisher which yields a very high quality product.

A still further object of the present invention is to pro vide a devicewhich is durable in construction, efficient in operation, and welldesigned to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

And a further object of the present invention is to provide a method forfinishing such foods as nuts which is both economical and far superiorin the quality of the finished product.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom consideration of the following specification when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View, partly broken away, of one form ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of that form of the invention shown inFIG. 1.

FlG. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the oil applicator pipe.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view of a part of the side of the machine opposite to thatshown in FIG. 1, and showing drive means.

FIG. 7 is a partial transverse cross sectional view of a drive rollerused in the present device.

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal cross sectional view of the driveroller shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of an auto matic salter tobe used in conjunction with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view, partially in cross section, of thesalter as shown in FIG. 9.

3,227,560 Patented Jan. 4, 1956 It will be understood that the devicehere presented by Way of illustration is in no way restrictive, but ismerely one preferred embodiment of the broad inventive concept.

Briefly, the present invention comprises a machine including a framesupporting a conveyor, having mounted over the conveyor the applicatorswhich are required for the particular food to be finished. A hood coversa substantial portion of the conveyor, and air is drawn through theconveyor and food product thereon, and discharged through the hood and avent pipe.

One or more mixers are disposed adjacent the conveyor to provide evenfinishing and cooling of the product. To maintain cleanliness throughoutoperation, means are provided to brush the particles from the conveyor,and drip pans are disposed thereunder to catch bits of product whichfall from the conveyor.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, it will be seen thatthe device comprises a frame 10 which is made up of a pair oflongitudinal channel shaped members 11 and 11' supported by a pluralityof leg members 12. The leg members 12 are joined by transverse braces 13and by longitudinal braces 14, all preferably being of round pipe orsimilar smooth surface stock. Though any shape material will work asefliciently, the round stock is preferred to facilitate ease incleaning.

At each end of the device is a roller, as drive roller 15, which isadapted to carry a conveyor belt 16 which is preferably of perforated orflexible meshed grating material to carry the food product as describedin detail later. To support the forward flight of belt 16 throughout itslength, there is a lattice-work 17 secured to the bottom of the channelshaped members 11 and 11'.

To support the return flight of conveyor belt 16, a plurality of rollers18 transverse to the belt 16 are disposed below the lattice-work 17, andare supported by brackets 19 which are attached, as by Welding, tochannel members 11, 11.

Below the return flight of conveyor 16 is a rotating crush 20 axiallytransverse to the belt (best seen in FIG. 6) which has stiff bristles ofnylon or like material to engage the belt. The brush 2% is supported byplates 21 which depend from channel members 11, 11'. The brush is driven(by means to be hereinafter described) in the direction to give brushingaction opposite to the travel of the return fli ht of the belt 16 inorder to remove crumbs and other refuse from the belt.

Below the lattice-work 17 and return flight is a plurality of drip trays26 supported by a pair of complementary angle members 26, 26' attachedto the leg members 12. The trays 25 merely rest on the angle members 26,26' so that they may be easily removed for cleaning.

Substantially centrally of the device is a hood 28 provided with ahammerlock 29 at its lower edge in order to support the hood 28 on thechannel members 11, 11. The hood slopes upward from each end as at 30 tothe center portion 31 to allow proper air flow to an exhaust or ventpipe 32. A fan (not shown) within the pipe 32 pulls cooling air throughthe open conveyor belt, loose product, hood and out through vent pipe32.

During the processing, the product must be stirred to provide even andthorough finishing and cooling. This is done by mixers as at 35 slightlyabove the belt 16. The mixers 35 individually comprise a central shaft36 transverse to the belt and journaled for rotation as at 37. Extendingradially from the shaft 36 are arms 36a which carry paddles 38 to engagethe food particles. The en tire assembly is rotated (-by means to behereinafter described) to tend to move the food particles in thedirection opposite to the travel of the product, thus providing completemixing and stirring. Any required number of mixers may be used,depending on the particular product and process.

The drive arrangement is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings.There is, at one end of the device, a motor 40 in combination with agear reduction unit 41. A sprocket 42 on the gear reduction unit 41drives a chain 43'which is trained over a sprocket 44 on jack shaft 45.Also on shaft 45 is a sprocket 46 which drives chain 47, chain 47driving a sprocket 48 which is mounted on a drive roller shaft 49.

Also on the shaft 49 is a hypoi gear 59 with its complementary gear 51fixed on a shaft 52 running the full length of the frame is to supplypower to the various components of the invention.

A worm, as at 54, is put into the shaft 52 wherever it is necessary tohave a driving means. The worm 54 has its associated gear 55 which isattached to the end of shaft 36 of mixer such as mixer 35. The worm 54adrives the gear 55a. On the same shaft is a gear 155 which meshes withgear 155 to drive the brush 20. It will be readily seen that a similararrangement may be used to drive a large variety of devices.

The conveyor belt contemplated for use with the present device is thewire belt known in the trade as a balanced weave belt. Though it isusually recommended by the manufacturer of such belts that they bepulled, it has been found that, with the drive means to be heredisclosed, excellent results may be had by pushing the belt.

in use with nuts, for instance, where oil and salt are applied, there isa marked tendency for the belt to become gummed with a mixture of oil,salt grains, and nut meal, which inevitably becomes produced to someextent. If the belt were pulled rather than pushed, it would remainunder tension at all times, since in practice the belt must hang insuspension even though in several spans, as during the return flight.

With the usual woven or meshed belts, adjacent linkages provide someamount of play, play which never manifests itself if the belt isconstantly under tension. On the other hand, if the tension is relaxedthis play develops, and linkages that were intimate become loose, andthose loose may become more distorted and produce new points ofcont-act.

As the belt 15 passes over the drive roll 15 and the idler tail roller(not shown), the belt is subjected to a compression and stretching atthe respective rolls. This is in fact a squeezing of the belt linkages,first one way and then the other, so that oil and solids are squeezedfrom linkage points of contact, and migrate to more accessible portionsof the wire forming the belt. Here the brushes can more readily removethe adhering matter.

The drive roller 15 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Attentionis directed to FIG. 7 which shows a partial transverse cross section ofthe drive roller. The teeth T of the roller 15 are machined on theroller, and are so spaced that the teeth fit into every other space inthe belt. The curved base 57 of the teeth T conforms to the spiralconfiguration of the belt and holds the belt securely for driving.Looking at FIG. 8, it will be seen that in longitudinal cross sectionthe teeth are of substantially rectangular shape, and are so spaced asto occupy every other opening in the belt.

With the above arrangement, the conveyor belt 16 will lie fiat on andconform to the lattice-work support 17.

In the event that the product to be processed must be salted, there isprovided an automatic salter S mounted toward the feed end of the devicein FIGS. 1 and 2, and shown in more detail in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The salter comprises a hopper 60 which is provided with a cover plate61. The forward and rear walls 62, 62' relative to the direction of themovement of the product of hopper 66 converge to join in a roundedbottom portion 63 transverse to the belt. At the lowermost portion ofthe bottom 63 are two rows of apertures 54 through which the salt mayflow into a wide chamber 65. To prevent packing of the salt which mayrestrict the fiow thereof, an agitator is utilized. A shaft 66 runs thewidth of the hopper, and is journaled for rotation at 67 and 68. Withinthe hopper, there are collars, such' as collar 69, fixed to the shaftfrom which project arms, as arm 70. The arms 79, in turn, mount a paddle'71 which rotates with shaft 66 to keep the salt in the vicinity ofapertures 64 loose enough to how freely.

The chamber 65 is formed from the bottom 63 of the hopper tit and anexteriorly mounted plate thereon bent at substantially a right angle toform a bottom plate 7-5 which contains a transverse row of elongateapertures '77 which extend longitudinally to the frame 10. Side plates 78 are provided to confine the chamber and prevent the salt from spillingover in unwanted quantities.

The front of chamber 65 is formed by a plate 75 having a flange 79 bywhich it is bolted to plate 76. Between the flange 79 and plate 76 is aslide plate 80 which may be shifted to cover varying portions of theapertures 77 and thus to vary the flow of salt.

From the chamber 65, the salt flows into a feed tray 83 beneath. A pairof vibrators 84, 84- vibrate the tray 33 to shake the salt to thedischarge end 84a where it then falls in a substantially uniform sheetbetween forward and rear upright plates 85 and 86 and deposited on theproduct below. Though any of a large number of vibrators will operatesatisfactorily, it has been found that a vibrator such as the Eriesvibrator is especially successful. Many of the commercial vibrators havea rather large amount of error; whereas, this particular type ofvibrator has a high degree of accuracy which will deliver the desiredamount of salt within a very close tolerance.

Drive means for the agitator within the salter is provided by a sprocket87 driven by a chain 88 which is, in turn, driven from a sprocket 89 onthe shaft 45.

When processing such foods as nuts, oil must be applied to the product.As seen in FTG. 1, two oilers 9tia and 90b are mounted over theconveyor, one near the feed end and the other near the exit end. Sinceboth oilers are identical in construction, only one will be discussed indetail. Each oiler includes a tank 90 having a cover 91 and aconventional liquid level indicator at 92. A tubing 93 is fitted intothe bottom of the tank 90, runs along the channel member 11, and isattached to an applicator pipe 94 transverse to and above the conveyorbelt. A valve 95 is installed in the tubing 93 to adjust the flow of oiltherethrough to the pipe of the particular oiler.

The applicator pipe 94 is so constructed as to give an even flow of oilover the entire width of the conveyor. The pipe 94 has the corner 96 ofa length of angle iron 97 welded to the bottom thereof, the flanges 97aof the angle having the same downward pitch. Outwardly and downwardlyopening holes 98 are drilled just above the angle iron 97 on each sideof the pipe 94, and are staggered,

every other hole being on opposite sides of the corner,

and the lower edges 97!) or the angle are in a substantially commonhorizontal plane.

In the operation of the device, salt is placed in the hopper 69 of thesalter S, and the slide plate 80 is adjusted for the desired salt flow.Oil is placed in the oil tanks 99, and the valves adjusted for properfiow of oil. The fan (not shown) within the vent pipe 32 is energized tostart the draft, and the motor 40 is started to start the operation ofconveyor, mixers, and salter. The product is then introduced on theconveyor. As the product moves under the salter S, a layer of salt isdeposited on the top of the product. The product then passes under theoil applicator pipe 94. The oil runs out of holes 98 and down the angle97. The alternately spaced holes provide an even distribution of oilacross the entire width of the product on the belt 16. The grains ofsalt, by surface tension, enable more oil to adhere to the nuts than ifthe salt were absent. A mixer then agit'ates the product to mix the saltand oil throughout. The product now passes under the hood 28. Cool airis drawn by the fan through the bottom of the deviceso that the airpassesthro'ugh the lattice-work 17, through conveyor belt 16 to cool theproduct thereon, and the air passes out through the vent pipe 32. One ormore mixers may be provided to agitate the product during its travelunder the hood so that even cooling may take place.

After the product passes from underneath the hood 28 and is cool, itpasses under a second oil applicator pipe 94, and oil is applied asbefore. The product is then discharged at the discharge end of thedevice.

Throughout the travel of the product, the agitation by the mixers willcause the small bits to fall through the conveyor belt 16 and bedeposited in the drip trays 25. After the product has been discharged,the empty belt now under tension and not compression, travels alongrollers 18 and is contacted by brush 20 which is driven in the directionopposite to the return flight of belt 16. The brush 20, therefore,brushes the belt and dislodges bits and particles which may adherethereto; also, the brush 24 will clean off salt and oil which may haveaccumulated on the belt 16 so that the belt will be clean and ready toreceive more product.

With the present device, it has been found that a very high qualityproduct may be obtained, especially when finishing and cooling nuts. Thenuts are fed on the conveyor and salt deposited thereon. At the firstoil applicator, a soaking oil is applied. This oil soaks into the warmor hot nuts and acts as an under-coat for the finishing oil. The nutsare then passed under the hood 28 to be cooled; thereafter, at thesecond oil applicator, the finishing oil is applied. This oil will stayon the surface of the nut and impart a very attractive glossy finish tothe nut.

The device as described has been found to be very efficient in coolingand finishing a large variety of products, always yielding a very highquality product. The gentle action of the mixers does not break or chipthe frangible foods, such as peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds andthe like, and has been found satisfactory even for Spanish peanuts,which have the husk that should not be broken. The simplicity ofconstruction renders the machine very easy to clean, thus it ismaintainable at such cleanliness that it can easily meet the highestcodes of sanitation.

It will or" course be understood that the present invention is in no waylimited to the particular device here presented by Way of illustration,but many changes and modifications may be made, and the full use ofequivalents resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as outlined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A process of preparing nuts comprising the steps of cooking the nuts,forming a uniform layer of nuts while still hot, applying a layer ofsalt on said layer of nuts, applying a soaking oil to said layer ofnuts, and mixing said nuts, salt and soaking oil, passing air over,around and through said layer of nuts to lower the temperature thereof,then applying a glazing finishing oil to said layer of nuts and mixingsaid nuts and said glazing finishing oil.

2. A process of preparing nuts comprising the steps of applying salt tosaid nuts, applying a soaking oil to said salted nuts and then applyinga glazing finishing oil to said nuts.

3. A process of preparing nuts comprising the steps of cooking the nuts,applying a layer of salt on said nuts, applying a soaking oil to saidnuts and salt, and then applying a glazing finishing oil to said layerof nuts and mixing said nuts and said glazing finishing oil.

4. A process of preparing nuts comprising the steps of cooking the nuts,forming a uniform layer of nuts While still hot, applying a layer ofsalt on said layer of nuts, applying a soaking oil to said layer ofnuts,and then applying a glazing finishing oil to said layer of nuts andmixing said nuts and said glazing finishing oil.

5. A process of preparing nuts comprising the steps of applying a layerof salt on said nuts, applying a soaking oil to said layer of nuts, andmixing said nuts, salt and soaking oil, passing air over, around andthrough said layer of nuts, then applying a glazing finishing oil tosaid layer of nuts and mixing said nuts and said glazing finishing oil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 263,634 8/1882Webster 198230 2,582,188 1/1952 Zaloom 99-127 2,859,121 11/1959 Avera99126 2,878,926 3/1959 Harty et al 198230 2,906,625 9/1959 Livingston99126 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Examiner.

1. A PROCESS OF PREPARING NUTS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF COOKING THE NUTS,FORMING A UNIFORM LAYER OF NUTS WHILE STILL HOT, APPLYING A LAYER OFSALT ON SAID LAYER OF NUTS, APPLYING A SOAKING OIL TO SAID LAYER OFNUTS, AND MIXING SAID NUTS, SALT AND SOAKING OIL, PASSING AIR OVER,AROUND AND THROUGH SAID LAYER OF NUTS TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE THEREOF,THEN APPLYING A GLAZING FINISHING OIL TO SAID LAYER OF NUTS AND MIXINGSAID NUTS AND SAID GLAZING FINISHING OIL.